Chương 84: S.05 Time to Fly 02(05)

Scene 10. The car that entered through the north gate, with not a moment's hesitation, headed toward the parking lot at the north gate's entrance. Just as Ji-young's protest that she was no directional-loser had said, having found the path exactly, Ji-young parked the car and shut off the engine. Hee-jin, who had received word that Ji-young had arrived, stood waiting to receive Ji-young, together with I-seon.

As Ji-young stepped out of the car, she looked at the two with an "are you serious" expression and her eyes went round. Both Hee-jin and I-seon stood there in work uniform. Ji-young: Ah-ni, why are you two here on the weekend. I-seon: Ah, I am on duty, so.... Hee-jin: I heard guests were coming.... Ji-young: Ah. Right. Ji-young briefly glanced down at her own comfortable attire. Ji-young: Ah, should I change too? Hee-jin shook her head. Hee-jin: There is no time for that. About ten?

minutes — and they will arrive at the north gate, they said. At Hee-jin's suggestion, Ji-young nodded. I-seon: Also — for the audit of the Northwest, we received word that the Director of the Inspectorate, Kim Soo-a, and the Master of the East Province have arrived. Ji-young: Sorry to drag them out on a weekend.... Ji-young let a light grumble fall as she moved her steps. As Hee-jin and I-seon, who were about to follow Ji-young's stepping-out, abruptly halted along with Ji-young's halted step, they stood frozen.

Hee-jin: Hm? Why are you — Before Hee-jin's careful question, sensing Ji-young's halted bearing, could finish, a loud voice came through. Jeong-seon: Ji-young sis!! I-yeon was driving with the passenger-side window down, and from inside it Jeong-seon was waving her hand with a bright smile, shaking it back and forth with all her might. At Jeong-seon's call toward Ji-young, Ji-young, I-seon, and Hee-jin turned to see the arriving car.

To their relief, neither Jeong-seon nor I-yeon were dressed in heavy winter clothing. Scene 11_01. A van came to a stop in the parking lot, where the asphalt had been heated under the sun that had passed noon. As Soo-a and her Special Task Force stepped out of the large van, the burly Hong-sin and the Northwest shamans assisting Hong-sin were already out, waiting to receive Soo-a's party. When Soo-a and her party bowed first, the four or five Northwest shamans, all but Hong-sin, bowed in return.

Soo-a, whose mood had not been good from the very start at the burly Hong-sin's not returning her greeting, raised her waist and asked Hong-sin. Soo-a: I am the Director of the Inspectorate, Kim Soo-a, here for the Northwest audit. Hong-sin: The documents are inside. Go in and look them over. As if she had not known a burly thick voice could be so irritating, Soo-a, from the very start, only wore a face fit to draw a sigh, and gave no answer.

At the hand-signals of the Northwest shamans who guided the way in place of Hong-sin, Soo-a and the eight-member Special Task Force squad following her began to walk. They had moved only two or three steps when a car bearing a loud tire-screech entered the ground parking lot. Soo-a, who had halted her stepping-step, broke into a slightly brighter expression at the sight of Seon-woo, who, without keeping to the parking lines, had set the car down and stepped out of it abruptly. Seon-woo bowed first to Soo-a.

At Seon-woo's bow, Soo-a and her Special Task Force returned the bow deeply, together. Seon-woo: Director. I am sorry. I was a little late because I was busy giving the Northwest Master of the Province a thorough working-over. To Seon-woo, who had conveyed her apology to Soo-a, with the high-handed yet polite reason loaded for Hong-sin's benefit, Soo-a barely held back her laughter and returned Seon-woo's bow deeply. Soo-a: No matter, Master of the Province. We have only just arrived ourselves.

As if to make a show of ignoring Seon-woo's irritating words, Hong-sin let out a light clearing of the throat and stepped away first. As Seon-woo watched Hong-sin's stride, who had stepped out and signaled "follow me," Seon-woo, who had drawn alongside Soo-a, twitched the corners of her lips. Seon-woo: That pig of a piece of shit — if push comes to shove, breaking one of his legs is alright too, yes?

Soo-a: Actually — I strongly feel I would like to do it myself first, but The Oldest told me to come without making trouble. Seon-woo: That would be an order given to the Director, so I will break it for you in your stead. Whether to just snap a leg or snap something else too, let us decide later. At the eerie and unshakable words, Soo-a, belatedly, let a smile rise and followed behind Hong-sin and Hong-sin's party. Scene 11_02. It was a quiet office-building corridor.

Late afternoon light, rather more orange than not, was rolling in along the silent corridor. Offices stood in rows, but since it was a weekend, no signs of life were felt within. A door of one of the offices set along that long corridor shattered, making a loud noise. Hong-sin, who had been thrown out from the broken door, slammed into the wall and tumbled down, looking as if he could do nothing at all. From inside, 회색 모래(Grey Sand) drifted scattering out.

Seon-woo, who had stepped outside, ceaselessly stomped on the head of the fallen Hong-sin. Seon-woo: Do, I, SSibal, look like, a goddamn, fucking, dog, to you?! Huh?! This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Hong-sin, with his consciousness drifting far off, lay still where he had fallen, unable even to rise. Seon-woo, briefly tidying her long hair, shaped the Grey Sand and drove sharp grey daggers down into both of Hong-sin's shoulders.

Hong-sin, who had been collapsed limp, regained the consciousness he had lost, and let out a sound like one vomiting blood. Seon-woo: You motherless piece of shit — just because you have eaten a few more years, you really do see us as dog shit, do you? Soo-a, who had hurried out from inside to try to stop Seon-woo's rage, threw her arms around Seon-woo from behind, but Seon-woo did not look as if she would let things stand. Soo-a: Mas, Master of the Province. You — you can stop now. Hong-sin: That is — I am sorry.

That — I was only there for the documents. Seon-woo: Then is it alright if I go back right now and slice the head-lid off that bitch boss of yours? Huh?! Soo-a had wrapped Seon-woo from behind, but Seon-woo, not letting on, began to move with Soo-a hung on her. As small-statured Soo-a, unable even to stop her, was about to be dragged along, Seon-woo, who only belatedly realized the weight, paused her step and spoke in a breath-gathered voice to Soo-a. Seon-woo: Um, Director.

At Seon-woo's calmed voice, Soo-a relaxed her grip a little and let Seon-woo go. Seon-woo: These motherless pieces of shit — I know them well. If you give them an inch, there really is no end to it. Loosening the two arms she had wrapped around Seon-woo's waist, Soo-a carefully moved her step around to stand in front of Seon-woo. Soo-a: I know that too, but — Seon-woo: Even after we gave them time again, look at the documents this pig of a piece of shit brought.

Seon-woo pulled the documents out from inside her coat and held them out to Soo-a. Without taking the documents, Soo-a worked to calm Seon-woo, who could not hide her agitation. Soo-a: I know well too. It made me angry. But, since their autonomy has already been guaranteed — let us, for now, return and properly file a report, then carry out enforcement again. Seon-woo: Hah. If that is the Director's will, then I shall follow. The autonomous audit authority is exercised by the Headquarters Inspectorate in any case.

But, Seon-woo handed the documents to Soo-a, then moved her step again and came toward Hong-sin, who had fallen to the floor. Seon-woo: What this piece of shit spat out — that, I really cannot allow. Soo-a, who had followed Seon-woo, looked at the fallen Hong-sin, let out a sigh as if she found him pathetic, and looked at Seon-woo again. Seon-woo: The very fact that he dared put such words in his mouth is rather sickening to me. Soo-a: It was the same for me.

Seon-woo nudged Hong-sin's cheek with the tip of her foot, conveying provocation to Hong-sin again. Seon-woo: Hey. Hey! Hong-sin, scared utterly stiff, only trembled and did not say a word. Seon-woo: What did you say earlier? Hong-sin could not answer Seon-woo's question. He could not. If he did, he was sure he would really die. With an impatient mind, Seon-woo pressed Hong-sin's cheek down with her foot and asked again. Seon-woo: What did you say. I am asking, you piece of shit.

Hong-sin: The, The Oldest, tas — Seon-woo crushed Hong-sin's front teeth in with her foot. Seon-woo: Enough. Stop. If I really hear it, it feels like I will want to kill you. Seon-woo pulled a small ash-powder pouch from her coat, and tossed it carelessly onto Hong-sin's blood-streaked chest. Her anger had climbed to the very top of her head, but without harming him further, she turned away with Soo-a. Soo-a and her Special Task Force, who had been inside, followed out behind Soo-a.

The two who had pressed the elevator button near the central staircase looked around at the unease they suddenly felt. It was an eerie feeling. The Special Task Force who had followed Soo-a, as if having felt something too, drew the blades they wore at their waist-belts and looked around. Seon-woo closed her eyes, let out a brief sigh, and conveyed a quiet voice to Soo-a, who had shaped an Incantation blade. Seon-woo: Director. Soo-a: Yes. Seon-woo: Quickly — return to Headquarters. Do not leave anyone here.

Soo-a: Pardon? Suddenly. What do you mean. A presence taking up Soo-a's question, bearing an eerie air, began to walk slowly from the far end of the corridor. Yu-seok: Hurry. Go. While I am letting you. There has to be someone to deliver word. Seon-woo's face had hardened, but her trademark needling was still there. The elevator had arrived, but Soo-a could not bring herself to step in. Letting out a light sigh, Seon-woo spoke to Soo-a. Seon-woo: Do not worry, just go. And — to The Oldest.

Please tell her to be careful, without fail. Soo-a: Even so, I cannot leave the Master of the Province alo — Seon-woo looked at Soo-a with the one eye of hers that had stained black. Seeing Seon-woo bearing a deep abyss, Soo-a felt a strange dread and could not finish her words. Yu-seok: Do not worry. I will not kill her. Just like the country bitch said. Soo-a bit her lip and gave a chin-signal to the Special Task Force. The members stepped into the opened elevator. The elevator door closed.

The squad members who had been about to go together had let their surprised eyes rest, but Soo-a, in the end, did not follow them. She only stood at the closed elevator door and let out a small sigh. Listening to the clear metallic chime of the Incantation blade held in Soo-a's two hands, Seon-woo let out a small sigh. Seon-woo: Is the standard for picking Headquarters Directors in order of who listens least? At Seon-woo's light jab, Soo-a, who stood beside Seon-woo, held a light smile.

Soo-a: Since we have come to serve the Harbinger as The Oldest, there will be no one as disobedient as us. At Soo-a's plausible and light retort, Seon-woo held a small smile. Seon-woo shaped Grey Sand into a long blade and drew it into her grip. Seon-woo: So you went and did the thing I told you not to do? You fucking piece of shit. Country piece of shit, with a head dumb to match. Yu-seok: He whined so much. I could not bring myself not to listen to the favor. Seon-woo: That is going to be exhausting. That.

Yu-seok: I only took half in. If it takes too long, I really will die. Ah, then it would be similar to those cult things. Only a trace remains briefly. Like over there. Or — would it be similar to you. Well, in any case.... Yu-seok, who had spoken from the far end of the corridor, lunged at full speed to the front of Seon-woo's face in a heartbeat. What blocked Yu-seok's lunge was Soo-a's Incantation blade. Along with the clear ringing of metal, small-statured Soo-a stepped in front of the swept-in Yu-seok.

The black coat Yu-seok wore flapped. Seon-woo, still wearing her relaxed expression, let out a snort at Yu-seok. Yu-seok glanced back and forth between Soo-a and Seon-woo, who had blocked him, and went on with what he had been saying. Yu-seok: You two — I will not lose to you, right? Seon-woo: Want to find out? Seon-woo's blade, gripped reverse-hand in a flash, struck Yu-seok's neck. Yu-seok's neck was cut, scattering black water, but the depth was not deep.

Yu-seok, who had halted his body in place, twisted a smirk on his face, raised a black current with one hand, and struck Seon-woo's stomach with all his force, but Seon-woo's Grey Sand did not easily allow Yu-seok's punch through. Lightly shoved back by the Grey Sand, when Yu-seok had lost his balance, Soo-a swung the Incantation blade and brought it to clash, releasing a clear resonating chime. Seon-woo raised Grey Sand again, gripped it in her hand, and gouged deep at both of Yu-seok's eyes.

A horrid sound of flesh being torn filled the empty corridor, but no scream came from Yu-seok. Yu-seok, who had pulled himself back quickly, with black water flowing from both eyes, shaped himself once more into his original form. Not letting that gap of Yu-seok's go, Seon-woo turned her blade in a wide arc and struck Yu-seok's neck again with all her force.

With the blade-tip biting in as far as Yu-seok's Adam's apple, Yu-seok's severed neck dangled to the point of falling, but Yu-seok endured to the end and would not let the blade cross over his neck-bone. The black current that surged up from the half-severed neck soaked the hem of Yu-seok's clothes. Seon-woo, with the blade still driven in, shaped Grey Sand into a blade and tried to strike the opposite side of Yu-seok's neck. Seon-woo's body twitched for a moment.

Seon-woo stopped striking Yu-seok and slowly looked behind her. A blade was driven deep into Soo-a's chest. Seon-woo, with her eyes flung wide, watched as Soo-a, blood spilling from her mouth, tilted slowly, and hurriedly tried to catch her. Hong-sin, standing behind her in perfect condition, was holding a blade and had driven it through to the front of Soo-a's chest. Watching the red blood that surged up from Soo-a as if vomited forth, Yu-seok, bearing rage, glared at Hong-sin standing beyond Seon-woo.

As if to say he had done a thing not ordered of him, Hong-sin, facing Yu-seok's hatred, sensed something had gone wrong — and at that moment, blue 인불(In-bul_Ghost Light) burst between Soo-a and Hong-sin, and Eun-jae, with red 흉(Hyung_凶 the sign of misfortune) characters drawn in both eyes, rose forth. Eun-jae: What is this. Hong-sin's blade snapped emptily, as if having broken before fulfilling its purpose.

At the red Hyung(凶) characters filling Eun-jae's clear eyes, Hong-sin could do nothing and could only step back falteringly. Eun-jae gripped the blade-shard lodged in Soo-a's chest with her bare hand, yanked it out with full force, then immediately sprinkled Grey Ash to settle Soo-a's wound. Holding Soo-a in her arms, Eun-jae slowly rose, glanced at what had unfolded behind her, and faced Hong-sin again. Eun-jae: That I cannot directly kill you Kim-seobang lot — count yourself fortunate.

If I could, The Hyung(凶) characters filling Eun-jae's two eyes deepened to a thicker and more terrifying red light. The rather wide distance between Hong-sin and Eun-jae closed in a heartbeat. Hong-sin, unable even to block Eun-jae's lunge, felt eerie and deep dread, and could do nothing but stare. Eun-jae lightly extended her foot and brushed the bulging belly of Hong-sin, and Hong-sin's burly bulk was flung backward as if hurled, slamming into the corridor wall set far off, tumbling there. Seon-woo: Eun-jae.

Seon-woo, who had witnessed Eun-jae's hatred in silence, called Eun-jae back in a polite voice. At Seon-woo's call, Eun-jae withdrew the Hyung(凶) and looked at Seon-woo with her own eyes. Seon-woo: This place is dangerous. The bungler behind me, who has taken in something errant, who knows what he might do — please go back to Headquarters with the Director. I will handle this. Eun-jae: If we leave Kim-seobang here alone, The Oldest will be furious. Seon-woo: Please go and tell her. Tell her to be careful.

Please deliver what you saw, in person. That alone is enough. At Seon-woo's polite charge, Eun-jae did not press further. Eun-jae, having nodded without a word, gently stamped one foot and set off blue flames. After the flames flared up with blue smoke, neither Eun-jae nor Soo-a remained. Seon-woo let out a large sigh and turned to look at Yu-seok again.